Thursday, August 30, 2007

Last Entry From Rwanda

Dear Friends,

As we near the end of our trip we have come to the last time that we will be able to access the Internet before we leave Africa. It has been a great trip, and we are looking forward to our last day and a half of fun. Tomorrow (Friday) we are going on an African Safari! It should be a lot of fun, but we have to get up at 4 am! It's a long car ride to the park, so hopefully it will be a paved road and we can sleep! On Saturday morning we are going to a dowry exchange ceremony for an AEE staff member. Then we head out on our long journey home. We have certainly done a lot while we have been here, and experienced some amazing times, but I think that we are all ready to come home. Thank you for your continued prayers for safety and travel.

As for the past few days, we have been very busy. On Tuesday we went to visit a school for women who want to learn English and restaurant skills so that they can get jobs in hotel restaurants. In the afternoon we went to an orphanage for disabled young people. It was a very difficult place to visit, but the kids were so excited to have visitors! We had fun playing with them, giving them toys, and learning more about the orphanage.

Wednesday was mostly spent in the car. We traveled over two hours each way to get to the university in Butare. We did a panel discussion (moderated by me, with the rest of the team on the panel) on Impacting Your Generation for Christ. We talked a lot about what evangelism is and how to live a life of evangelism. I drew a great (I thought) diagram showing what evangelism has traditionally been contrasted with what I think evangelism should be more like. I have never seen so many camera flashes go off. Yes, in between the rest of the team just laughing their heads at me for my artistically challenged diagram, you would have thought that Brad Pitt had just walked onto the stage. I will post the photo some time when I have more time to give the proper explanation.

We also visited a Self Help Group that was weaving baskets. It was a real treat to see how they were made and to be able to give the women direct support by purchasing baskets and crafts directly from them.

This morning (Thursday) was the prison ministry visit. We went into a prison which houses about 4,000 men. About 400-500 of them attended the service, and the team all were given the opportunity to share our testimonies and I preached a message. There was a great response at the end of the service, and it was awesome to see how God was working in that place.

In the afternoon Brian and I went to the bank which was started by AEE, and the rest of the team went to visit the AEE Mobile Clinic. The clinic goes to different locations throughout Kigali and offers basic medical care and first aid.

And now we are in the Bourbon Cafe waiting for our meeting with Antoine, the team leader of AEE Rwanda. We are very much looking forward to meeting with him and learning more about what AEE Rwanda has planned for the future.

Just before I sign off, I want to comment on the comments about a special someone's birthday. When we left America, Brianna told me that her birthday was on Tuesday of this week. That would be the 28th. Yet in all actuality she was born on the 27th. So we (including her) missed her real birthday!! And we didn't even realize it until late on Tuesday night. It didn't matter, though, as we had a surprise up our sleeves!

Usually when we get back to the compound at night, Brianna changes into more comfortable clothing - she is not a fan of skirts! But on this night we told her that she couldn't change. And after dinner Anastase and his wife, and Noel and his wife came over for her surprise birthday party!! They brought a cake and gave her a really nice necklace, hair thingie, and earrings set. We sang to her and had a great time celebrating her 15th! (And yes, she did cry!) It was a great time and I am glad that we were able to do that for her. We have all enjoyed having her on the trip.That's all from Rwanda! Next time I add to this, it will be from the USA! I can't wait to hug my wife and son!